• Novelty Fig Leaf Pastie & Merkin Gift Set, 1962, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Novelty Fig Leaf Pastie & Merkin Gift Set

    Novelty Fig Leaf Pastie & Merkin Gift Set Date: c. 1962 Origin: United States Fabric: Plastic and wire Brand: The Leister Game Co.   A novelty gift set comprising of plastic and wire pasties and a merkin in the style of figleaves. It's unlikely these were ever intended to actually be worn on the body,…
    May 20, 2019
  • Lace 'Merry Widow' With Front Zip & Padded Cups By Warner, c. 1960s, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    Lace ‘Merry Widow’ With Front Zip & Padded Cups By Warner

    Lace 'Merry Widow' With Front Zip & Padded Cups By Warner Date: c. 1961 Origin: United States Fabric: Nylon, polyester and spandex Brand: Warner   In the late nineteenth century, New York physician Dr Lucien Warner gave up his practice to begin a new career lecturing on women’s health issues, including the effects of the…
    May 15, 2019
  • Pale Pink Custom Nylon Corselette By Rigby & Peller, c. 1960s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    Pale Pink Custom Nylon Corselette By Rigby & Peller

    Pale Pink Custom Nylon Corselette By Rigby & Peller Date: c. 1960s Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Nylon Brand: Rigby & Peller   A luxurious corselet that was likely custom made for a specific customer, likely created in the transitional period of fashion between the 1950s and 60s. The style is reminiscent of 50s foundationwear, but…
    March 16, 2019
  • Ruffled Lace Trimmed Suspender Belt By Christian Dior, c. 1960s, France. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    Ruffled Lace Trimmed Suspender Belt By Christian Dior

    Ruffled Lace Trimmed Suspender Belt By Christian Dior Date: c. 1960s Origin: France Fabric: Nylon Brand: Christian Dior   This pull on suspender is made of a mix of firm stretch powernet, nylon lace and sheer nylon mesh. Each seam features a decorative faggoting style ladder braid. The waist is hemmed with a firm, plush…
    January 30, 2019
  • 'Little X' Nylon & Lycra Girdle By Silhouette, c. 1960s, Great Britain. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    ‘Little X’ Nylon & Lycra Girdle By Silhouette

    'Little X' Nylon & Lycra Girdle By Silhouette Date: c. 1960s Origin: Great Britain Fabric: Nylon and lycra Brand: Silhouette   The 'Little X' girdle design was a particularly remarkable design for the fact that it was fully elasticated; previously girdles would only stretch horizontally and had a tendency to move around the body during…
    November 30, 2018
  • Cotton Sun Top By St. Michael, c. 1960s, UK. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Cotton Sun Top By St. Michael

    Cotton Sun Top By St. Michael Date: c. 1960s Origin: United Kingdom Fabric: Cotton Brand: St. Michael   This cotton sun top is not strictly a piece of underwear but the cut and construction are very similar to a number of structured bra styles from the 1930-50s, most notably the 'cathedral' bra. This top uses…
    August 27, 2018
  • Nylon & Lace Gown With Satin Ribbon Sash, c.1960s, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Nylon & Lace Nightgown With Satin Ribbon Sash

    Nylon & Lace Gown With Satin Ribbon Sash Date: c. 1960s Origin: United States Fabric: Nylon Brand: Unknown   A delicate nightgown in translucent nylon, with a pleated bustline, a satin ribbon waist sash and delicate lace trims. The sheerness of the base fabric and lace ruffles are typical features of 1960s nightwear, where very…
    July 28, 2018
  • "No Bra" Sheer Nylon Bra by Rudi Gernreich for Exquisite Form, 1964, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice.

    “No Bra” Sheer Nylon Bra by Rudi Gernreich for Exquisite Form

    "No Bra" Sheer Nylon Bra by Rudi Gernreich for Exquisite Form Date: 1965 Origin: United States Fabric: Nylon Brand: Rudi Gernreich for Exquisite Form   The 1950s bra design trend for a structured and rigid silhouette continued until the mid 1960s when a softer more ‘natural’ look became fashionable. This is due to the increased…
    February 22, 2018
  • Quilted Nylon Sling Bra By Rose Marie, c. 1950s, France. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Quilted Nylon Sling Bra By Rose Marie

    Quilted Nylon Sling Bra By Rose Marie Date: c. late 1950s, early 1960s Origin: France Fabric: Nylon Brand: Rose Marie   A nylon sling-style bra, that offered a subtle lift and exposed the nipple underneath clothing to achieve the fashionable pointed bust silhouette of the 1950s. The bottom half of the cups is quilted for…
    January 10, 2018
  • Poodle Embroidered Nylon Half Slip, c. 1960s, USA. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

    Poodle Embroidered Nylon Half Slip

    Poodle Embroidered Nylon Half Slip Date: c. early 1960s Origin: United States Fabric: Nylon Brand: Unknown   A coral nylon half slip with an elasticated waist, embellished with machine-stitched embroidery in black and white threads. The hem is stitched with a scallop design, and the left side of the garment has a poodle, umbrella and…
    November 11, 2017
  • Floral Printed Nylon Bra & Knicker Set By Saks Fifth Avenue, c. 1960s The Underpinnings Museum shot by Tigz Rice Studios 2017

    Floral Printed Nylon Bra & Knicker Set By Saks Fifth Avenue

    Floral Printed Nylon Bra & Knicker Set By Saks Fifth Avenue Date: c. 1960s Origin: United States Fabric: Printed nylon & nylon lycra Brand: Saks Fifth Avenue   This bright, floral bra set is a beautiful example of the 1960s trend for bold and colourful printed underwear. Constructed in a mix of soft, rigid nylon and nylon-lycra…
    April 29, 2017
  • Quilted Padding & Elastic Bra By Philtrex, c. 1960s The Underpinnings Museum shot by Tigz Rice Studios 2017

    Quilted Padding & Elastic ‘Linda’ Bra By Philtrex

    Quilted Padding & Elastic 'Linda' Bra By Philtrex Date:  c. early 1960s Origin: Likely Great Britain Fabric: Nylon and lycra Brand: Philtrex   Bras of this era mark the move into construction methods and materials that are still in use to this day. The garment silhouette is certainly typical of the 1960s, with the pointed bust line, but…
    April 29, 2017